Devotion: The Country Farm Estate of Blitz and Dick Reynolds

We are re-posting our article on The Devotion Estate. With a wedding about to take place on the property, the owner decided that the views and the architecture should be a complete surprise. We will post and toast the happy bride and groom in our next installment!

As many of you know, I live across the street from the Historic Reynolda House Museum, Gardens and village. Our pastoral, small city is highly cultural and well preserved greatly, by the perseverance and generosity of the Reynolds family. I noted in my last post, on the Reynolda Estate,  that R. J. Reynolds was a highly progressive thinker who married an educated and energetic wife, to whom he accorded a great amount of personal autonomy. The estate was purchased in her name and Kate had full control over the vision, execution and management of this self sufficient enterprise--in 1917.  R.J. Reynolds died soon after the house was completed, which was a terrible loss.

From left: Mary, R. J., Katharine, Nancy, Dick, and Smith.

PATRICK REYNOLDS COLLECTION

I mentioned that I recently read: Kid Carolina: R.J. Reynolds Jr. /A Tobacco Fortune and the Mysterious Death of a Southern Icon, by Heidi Schnakenberg. It is a fascinating read. This is the story of the eldest son, Dick, who took his father's death very hard. Kate, his Mother had been warned by her doctors, owing to a rheumatic heart, that she should not have any more children. When she remarried a significantly younger man and died in child birth, Dick embarked upon a life long search for love and happiness that sadly left a great deal of scorched earth.

Owing to his spectacular wealth and notoriety, not to mention looks, Dick Reynolds went on the lamb from time to time, much to the horror of his family. He would simply evaporate, and the family would have to hunt him down. I believe he experimented with anonymity to test his self worth. When he checked back in, he threw his energies into new technology and projects, receiving his pilot's license from Orville Wright, founding the earliest airfields and airline companies, using his family name and wealth to secure success. The burden of legacy is heavy. Dick Reynolds inherited his family's entrepreneurial genius, yet he was plagued by loss. He cycled through presence and absence. When he was good he was very, very good, and when he was bad, he was horrid. So, through my interest in design and architecture regarding various local Reynolds's estates, I was able to visit a spectacular portion of the Devotion Estate he developed with his first wife, Blitz--Elizabeth Dillard Reynolds.

Above: In 1934, on his 28th birthday, Dick and Blitz took possession of his inheritance of more than $25 million. “I know it’s a lot of money, but I can’t get excited,” Dick Reynolds told reporters.  I wonder what it would take? 

PATRICK REYNOLDS COLLECTION

Tobacco sold briskly during the depression and fueled by the massive inheritance Dick and Blitz assembled 11,000 pristine acres of wilderness along the Mitchell River, naming their rural retreat "Devotion,"  reflecting their strong feelings for each other.  Inspired by FDR's WPA programs, Dick sought to employ as many of the rural population as possible. The rural retreat movement was on, and with Architect, Roy P. Wallace, who had worked with Charles Barton Keen on Reynolda house, they utilized the chestnut trees that had been lost in the blight and the regional stone quarried on site. Long, deep verandas, gabled roofs, board and batten walls, with exaggerated rock chimneys all combine to create charming, unpretentious rural dwellings that compliment and transition between farm and wilderness. Fish Hatcheries, turkey, pheasant and chicken houses, cattle and horse barns are scattered around the portion that I visited.

The trout hatchery still operates and the different sections hold the fish as they mature. The magnificent lake where we spotted a pair of massive Herons that look liked Pterodactyls--I kid you not. I am just going to walk you around and let nature speak for herself!

I am not going to show you the photo of me laying on the ground clutching branches for dear life, as we scaled the hillside.

My favorite quote on design is from Hutton Wilkinson: 

"Every night I go to bed and pray that people with money will get taste, and that people with taste will get money." I think this is why I am so enamored with the Reynolda family estates, as they had both taste and money. 

If you are as fascinated as I am, regarding the Reynolds family and their estates, I recommend  you read: Devotion Rural Historic District Draft of Research for Application to The National Register of Historic Places and The National Register of Historic Lands by William Noah Reynolds. It is beautifully written and detailed. As a grandson of Dick and Blitz, he chronicles the phases of their life with honor and authority. As to the dispersal of the estate, and addressing this portion, he explains : "As part of the divorce settlement, Blitz Reynolds was awarded sole ownership of the rural estate. For the next few years, she and the four Reynolds sons -Josh, Will, John, and Zach lived year-round at Devotion. After Blitz Reynolds’ death in 1961, the property was divided equally among her sons. To this day, William Neal Reynolds II and other heirs of the Reynolds family possess large parcels of Devotion. In the 1990s Raleigh resident Charles C. McKinney purchased a key portion of the estate. During the past decade, Mr. McKinney has undertaken a major restoration of more than a dozen buildings and structures on the site,  Owing to McKinney’s stewardship, one is able to sense the original rustic architectural character of this 1930s-era mountain estate designed for R. J. Reynolds, Jr. and Elizabeth D. Reynolds."

PATRICK REYNOLDS COLLECTION

The Reynolds boys at the main house, which is on a different portion of the property.  

More Later! 

Written by Liz Morten 

with Ashley D'Auria

My brilliant intern from Wake Forest University

Congratulations on your graduation Ashley!

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2013 Interior Design Shopping: The Winter Antiques Show, Scott's in Atlanta

While we have been distracted by other topics, not to mention life, I still have some images of my wander through the New York International Gift Fair, The Winter Antiques Show and The Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market. Here is a quick round-up so we can put all of that to bed and look forward to High Point. I'll start with a few more images from Scotts.

A handsome grouping of Chinese incense censers with a terrific malachite shade have some age and are beautifully glazed. They would be fabulous on a mantle or scattered across my dining table with the lids removed for low flower arrangements. With a $1,600 price tag (or $400.00 apiece), you can achieve a rich look for a fair price.  I try to stick to $300.00 ea. or less for 100 to 200 year old ceramics, but I'll pay a premium for an unusual set. For the same price A Queen Ann style mahogany game table circa 1700, caught my eye. For the look and the price, I'm not too worried about the veracity of the date. Gun to my head, it looks right to me.

I was disappointed to find this pair of head turning French tole candlesticks snapped up . I walked away for a few hours. I think they probably went for $600.00 all together. I shop so much, I have to be trembling to pull the trigger.

The simple elegance of this late Georgian period chest on chest conveys this Regency's neoclassical preference for restraint. Marriages of two separate pieces to combine one functional larger piece is common. In this case, the other function of dividing chests into two parts was for ease of loading onto sailing vessels.  $1,400.00 is a good, fair price although I would love to steal it from an estate sale for $700.00-$800.00.

I did see some serious collectors grab up a few things. To train your eye for future forays to Scott's, I'll drag you up to New York, to see The Winter Antiques Show in the Armory, without the fuss of TSA, hotels and bitter cold. I've got a thing for Sailor's Valentines. The irony of burly rough men shell hunting and oh, so carefully creating pretty shell collages for their sweethearts makes me smile.

$8,500.00

Just so you know, historians believe the women on the Islands, principally Barbados, gathered the shells and assembled the intricate designs for the Sailors to purchase for their loved ones. This rough and tumble crowd are unlikely artisans. Don't leave your common sense on the door step or you'll get, well... robbed, although this is a common point of confusion.

Piero Fornasetti was present and accounted for, as the Provenance is the estate of the Tony Duquette.

You do not have to be a connoisseur to guess that this beautiful child is by John Singer Sargent. I love portraits of girls and since I have just read The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro I think everything is fake.
This is of course a vetted show and the dealer,  Adelson, has an impeccable reputation and clear provenance derived from the Vickers family. I did not request the price of Miss Dorothy Vickers.

My niece and I immediately recognized this Carle Vernet wall paper, as we have seen it many times in the Directors Room at Santa Anita Racetrack.  It is a vivid wood block print that looks surprisingly new. I do remember the price tag as $60,000.00 per panel, which seemed like the bargain item at the  show for size and price comparison. Carolle Thibaut-Pomerantz is a world renown expert in antique and vintage wallpaper fragments and series. Her Rizzoli book Wallpaper: A History of Style and Trends, is a must for design libraries.

cenic wood-block “Les Chasses de Compiègne” : Le Picnic printed by Jacquemart, France 1812-15, design commissioned to the painter Carle Vernet, private collection of Jean Zuber.

I have always enjoyed following the narrative around the room. It begins with the jolly carriage ride out to the country, continues with the hunt and the kill followed by a festive plein air celebration. I would think this wood block print on paper would be an earlier work, as it depicts the aristocracy at their leisure. Vernet's Sister was guillotined during the French Revolution, after which the artist started painting detailed depictions of Napoleanic battles.  Not only did he manage to keep his head, but he was decorated. Below is the best image I could find on the internet showing Santa Anita's version. I can see the dress code has relaxed! 

More Later

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Castles in the Sky: Penthouse Views

Yes, there really are houses and even castles in the sky. While the sidewalks are filled with snow in New York, imagine being high above the noise and the drifts. If designers and design bloggers have a common denominator, it is one of optimism. We never stop dreaming and seeing grand images that we can apply to our homes and projects. If something is beautiful, we want to revel in it, reduce it, reproduce it or at least share it with a friend. And yes, I would really love a swimming pool in the sky.

It would have both water and city views. If the wind gets blowing, then maybe a little surf. 

This was a $22 million dollar Tribeca property from Douglas Elliman, that I am relieved to report is both sold and closed. I admit to owning a kindle, but only because I am out of space for books. This library in the same house would do nicely.

As you know, I live in Winston Salem, North Carolina and love my garden so, if I ever join my children in New York City,  I also need a garden. 

We are in Chelsea with water/city views and this closed listing from Sotheby's was $4,495,000.00. As far as my optimistic girl thinking, lottery winning brain is concerned, I am now saving money. If time is money, this is actually, me. 

Right, so... as an expression of my admiration for the analog or analogous situation, I could consider this $19 million Brooklyn penthouse marked down considerably from $25 million--saving again! As I have said before, obsolescence is hot, but the endless reminder is a consideration. 

I found a great deal in mid-town. Green Goblin's aery is up for grabs for $1,595,000.00. It has definite possibilities. 

While we have only one bedroom, 18 foot ceilings over a 19 foot room lead me to believe, there is room for another large bedroom, bath and closet.

If you look carefully at the view you can see the top of the Chrysler Building which would be spectacular lit up at night.

Out of curiosity, I decided to check my own back yard for penthouse offerings. We actually have several! Katy Fisher of Prudential Carolinas Realty is listing One Park Vista for $1,050,000.00.

I like the large private terrace with a view of the historic Reynolds Building which you may notice is the prototype of the Empire State Building, built by Architectural firm Shreve and Lamb in 1929. The apartment is two stories with 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, plenty of closet space and is a roomy 3,246 square feet. 

If you don't want to use the stairs, a private elevator comes in handy for the grocery shopping.

Great floor to ceiling arched windows bring in plenty of streaming sunlight. 

The claustrophobic types will love the feeling of a window in this oversized shower. 

 More Later!! 

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Shopping Art

Pop Shop Gallery in Winston Salem 

Tuesday, February 5th 5-8pm opening cocktails

Wednesday, February 6th 10:00-5:00 

Thursday, February 7th 10:00-4:00 

3905 Camerille Farm Road, Winston-Salem

I have a terrible problem with January. I go to the Atlanta Mart, I shop Scott's and ADAC...then I go to The New York International Gift Show. I have to process a couple of thousand pictures to illustrate my faves and meanwhile, I catch a cold in the middle of it. Do not think the shopping has stopped for a NY minute. I will push the pause button yet again, because we have a great pop shop art sale in Winston-Salem requiring immediate attention. Since I made my first and only personal purchase of 2013, all the previous forays into the wilds of design are suspended. We will get back to them soon. Let us start with my one and only purchase.

 Page Laughlin does interior renderings that are slightly obscured with layers of paint as if they dimly remembered.

The artist describes her work in the following: "In the subject matter of my paintings, things are often not quite what they seem: lovely interiors, on closer consideration, lead to disquieting seduction; wallpaper details, luscious statuary, give way to recognition of issues of power and subjugation. I try to make work that has beauty to attract and complexity to sustain observation." That is the best description I have found of our business! 

We are greatly looking forward to her exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Art from February 10th-July 28th. I wonder if she will have to keep my painting until then!

Figurative work is going to be the focus of Laughlin's next phase, so I was pleased to nab one, while they are still out there. 

Scott Duce, from New York City, produces images of startling clarity. Archetypal images such as trees are repeated throughout the body of his work.

There is a substantial number of paintings by the supremely talented David Kroll. 

David Kroll says this about his work: I am interested in beauty, not superficial prettiness. I try to paint substantial beauty. I approach my blank canvases without a definitive image and let the painting develop in a slow organic way. I paint in increasingly refined layers, a practice that allows me to discover the narrative and emotional content of each painting over time. Using this method, I try to express why a sunset fills me with wonder, why a certain quality of light can make a busy day suddenly still, and why the momentary sound of a bird call can seem - for that instant - like the most important thing in the world.

The connection between civilization and nature are constant themes within his body of work. This luminous piece glows and stands out dramatically in a room that is literally stuffed with paintings.
Below, we have a low country canvas by Jacob Cooley. There are several beautiful examples of his crisp compositions.

 I was very taken with this grouping of Charles Edward Walker's works. I hope we have tantalized you with the myriad offerings of this fun  event. You will just have to swing by the show, or visit the well curated collection at Hiddle Brooks Gallery.

 We hope to see you tonight at the show!! 

New York Gift Show coming next!!

More Later!!